Handle for stretchable exercising device



Feb. 11, 1969 J. SILBERMAN HANDLE FOR STHETCHABLE EXERCISING DEVICE Sheet of 2 Filed April 19, 1966 INVENTOR Fig.3

1 bermafl m/ BY ATTORIfIEYS United States Patent 3,427,023 HANDLE FOR STRETCHABLE EXERCISING DEVICE Ira J. Silberman, Opelika, Ala., assignor to Diversified Products Corporation, Opelika, Ala., a corporation of Alabama Filed Apr. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 543,635 US. Cl. 27282 Int. Cl. A63b 21/02, 23/00 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an exerciser, and more particularly to a progressive chest pull exerciser comprising a pair of hand grips with a plurality of elastic means extending therebetween.

In developing muscles in the torso, particularly in the shoulders, back and across the chest, it has been found that stretching an elongate, elastic resilient member apart with the 'hands either in front of the body or behind the body puts a strain on the muscles in these regions of the body so that repeated stretching of the elastic member develops the muscles.

Through the years, various devices have been constructed to be utilized in the development of the torso muscles. The desirable features of such a device should be a balanced and adaptable hand gripping means, resilient and elastic members extending between a pair of hand gripping means that will not readily lose their elasticity through extended use, and means for changing the strength of the elastic means extending between the handles. It has been found that the use of coil springs and fibrous elastic bands are suitable for the elastic means extending between the handles. However, the handles previously developed have generally necessitated equipping the elastic members at their ends with rather complicated connecting means so they could be connected to the handles. Of course, it was necessary that the handles be rather simple in construction in order to be inexpensive to manufacture and still have the necessary strength properties required for the use to which they were to be put since the handles were expected to support a plurality of elastic members, which caused them to resist the tension applied to the multiple number of resilient members. Accordingly, placing the connecting means on the ends of each of the resilient members caused each connecting means to resist only the stress of a single resilient member, whereas if the connecting means were a part of the bandle, the connecting means would have to resist the stress of the multiple number of resilient means extending between the handles. Construction of the resilient means with a connecting means at each end caused the resilient means to be much more expensive than they would ordinarily be if only a simplified closed hook, or other simple attaching means were positioned at each of its ends for connection to the handle. Also, since the resilient means are subjected to repeated stretching, they are the most vulnerable portion of the exerciser and the first to wear 3,427,023 Patented Feb. 11, 1969 out. Therefore, it can be seen that it is desirable to construct the resilient means as inexpensively as possible.

Accordingly, this invention comprises an exerciser having a plurality of elongated stretchable means extending between a pair of handles, the resilient means having a closed eye hook at each of its ends for connection to the handles, and the handles including connecting means for connecting selected ones of the resilient means to the hand-1e.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a method of connecting a plurality of resilient stretchable means between a pair of handles.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method of selectively connecting at least one resilient means between a pair of handles.

Another object of this invention is to provide apparatus for exercising the torso of the human body wherein the strength properties of the apparatus can be varied.

Another object of this invention is to provide an exerciser for exercising the torso of the human body wherein a pair of handles can be selectively attached to at least one resilient elongated elastic means having closed eye hooks at each of its ends.

Another object of this invention is to provide a torso exerciser that is simple in construction, convenient to operate, adjustable, long lasting, and well designed to meet the economics of manufacture.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following disclosure, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a handle of the exerciser, showing a single elastic band connected thereto;

FIG. 2. is an elevational cross sectional view of a handle of the exerciser;

FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view of the handle of the exerciser;

FIG. 4 is an exploded plan view, in cross section, of the end portion of the exerciser handle.

Referring now more paraticularly to the drawing, in which like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, FIG. 1 shows a portion of an exerciser 10 including a handle 11 and an elastic band 12. The handle 11 includes an aluminum hand grip 14 and a molded plastic band support 15. The band support 15, as is shown in FIG. 3, comprises a pair of substantially identical band support halves 15a and 15b which fit together by means of an adhesive substance to form the band support 15. The band support includes hand grip retainers 16 and 17, hand support portion 19, and a pair of extension arms 20 and 21 extending between the hand grip retainers 16 and 17 respectively, and the band support portion 19.

The hand grip retainers 16 and 17 define a hollow interior portion 22 and 23, respectively, and central apertures 24 and 25, and 26 and 27, respectively. The apertures 24-27 are substantially aligned with each other and are of substantially identical diameter. Since the hollow interior portion 22 and 23 of each hand grip retainer 16 and 17 is larger than the central apertures 24-27 thereof, the central apertures are defined by internally extending flanges 30 and 31, and 32 and 33, respectively. The flanges 31 and 33 are tapered from their respective hollow inner portions to the outside of their respective hand grip retainers.

The hand grip 14 is generally cylindrical in shape, having outwardly extending flanges 35 and 36 at each of its ends. The flanges 35 and 36' are tapered outwardly from the hand grip 14 with a curvature approximately equal to the taper of the internally extending flanges 31 and 33 of the hand grip retainers. When the band support halves 15a and 15b are assembled, the hand grip 14 is positioned J therebetween, in the vicinity of the apertures and 27, so that the internally extending flanges 31 and 33 of the hand grip retainers engage the flanges 35 and 36 of the hand grip in the manner as shown in FIG. 2, so that the hand grip 14 extends between the hand grip retainers 16 and 17.

The band support portion 19 of the band support includes a series of projections 38a, 38b, 38c, 38d, 38.? and 38f, and a series of indentations 39a, 39b, 39c, 39d, and 39a, intermediate the projections. The projections 38a-f define apertures 40a, 40b, 40c, 40d, 40c and 49f in coaxial alignment with each other, and disposed outwardly of the innermost portion of the indentations 39a- 39c. Apertures 40a-40e are open ended, while the aperture 40f does not extend entirely through the projection 38 The projections 38a-f of the band support half 15a further define hollowed out portions 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d, 41:: and 41 disposed immediately adjacent their respective apertures 40a and the projections 38a-f of the band support half 15b include locking knobs 42 (locking knob 42a being shown in FIG. 3, while the remaining locking knobs 42b, 42c, 42d, 42e and 42 not being shown), the locking knobs 42a-f conforming in size and shape to the hollowed out portions 4111- As is shown in FIG. 3, the locking knobs 42a-f and the hollowed portions 41af are positioned in their respective band support halves 15a and 15b outwardly of their respective apertures 40a-f so that when the band support halves 15a and 15b are assembled, the locking knobs 42a-f will project into the hollowed out portions 41a].

The band support portion 19 of the band support 15 further includes a locking channel 44 disposed between the projections 38a and 38b and the extension arm 20. The locking channel 44 is open at its end near the extension arm 20 and includes a locking projection 45 extending inwardly of the locking channel, away from the projections 38af, and guide walls 46 and 47. Guide wall 46 is disposed adjacent the extension arm 20 and is substantially fiat in configuration, while guide wall 47 is disposed adjacent the projections 3Saf, and is sloped inwardly of the locking channel 44, to form a tapered opening 48 to the locking channel.

A band attachment pin 40 is provided that has a rectilinear, elongated band supporting portion 51 and a locking portion 52. The locking portion 52 includes a spacer leg 54 disposed normal to the band support portion 51 and a locking leg 55 disposed substantially normal to the spacer leg 54 and substantially parallel to the band support portion 51. The locking leg 55 includes a locking bend 56 disposed inwardly of the locking leg 55, toward the band support portion 51 of the band attachment pin 50. As is shown in FIG. 2, the band attachment pin is inserted in the handle 11 by inserting the band support portion 51 through the coaxially aligned apertures 40a-f of the projections 380 f, until the locking portion 52 of the attachment pin 50 is received in the locking channel 44 of the band support portion 19. As the locking leg of the pin 50 is inserted into the locking channel 44, the locking bend 56 of the locking leg 55 engages the projection 45 of the locking channel 44, the tapered portion 56a of the locking bend engaging the tapered guide wall 47 of the locking channel 44 to bias the locking leg 55 of the pin away from the band support portion 51 thereof so that the locking bend 56 will move around the projection 45 of the channel 44. Of course, when the pin 50 has been inserted into the aligned apertures 40a-f far enough for the locking bend 56 to pass over the projection 45 of the locking channel, the locking leg 55 will move back to its original position so that it projects slightly inwardly of the projection 45 of the locking channel 44, and the removal of the pin 50 from the aligned apertures 40af and locking channel 44 is resisted. It can be seen that the guide wall 46 of the locking channel 44 acts to guide the locking leg 55 of the pin 50 toward its proper position in the locking channel 44, and that this guide wall 46 also tends to support the locking leg at its fulcrum when being pivoted slightly to move its bend 56 over the locking projection 45 of the channel 44.

As is shown in FIG. 4, the locking knobs 42a-f of the projections 3811- are disposed outwardly of the apertures 40a and the band attachment pin 50 when in its position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, so that any outward thrust of the pin 50 in the aligned apertures 40a-f will be resisted by the projections 42a and the projections 42a-f will be supported by the outer wall of the hollowed out portions 41af. This construction not only increases the support that would otherwise be provided the pin 50, but also prevents the pin 50 from working into any cracks that might be present in the band support portion 19 of the handle 11, to wedge the band support halves 15a and 15b apart from each other. It can be seen that this labyrinth type interconnection between the halves of the band support 19 would cause the forces exerted on locking knobs 42a to press the locking knobs into engagement with the walls of the hollowed out portions 4111- OPERATION When it is desired to utilize the exerciser, the band attachment pins 50 of each handle 11 are removed from the handle to expose the indentations 39a of each handle. An elastic band 12 is then positioned with its closed hook 60 projected into the indentation 39a of the handle. The band supporting portion 51 of the band attachment pin 50 is then inserted through the apertures 40a and 40b, passing through the eye of the closed hook 60 of the elastic band 12. This, of course, attaches the elastic band to the handle handles are assembled in this manner, with the elastic 11, the closed hook 60 of each band is inserted into the indentations 39bf, as desired, and the band support portion 51 of the pin 50 is passed through the eye of each hook 60, until the band support portion 51 is received in the last aperture, aperture 40 of the projection 38 Of course, when the band support portion 51 of the pin 50 has reached this point, the locking portion 52 of the pin 50 will have been received in the locking channel 44, the locking bend 56 of the locking leg 55 passed over the projection 45 of the locking channel 44, to lock the pin 50 in the position as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. When both handles are assembled in this manner, with the electric band extending from the indentation 39a of one handle to the indentation 39a of the opposite handle, and the other bands extending from their respective indentations, the exerciser 10 can then be manipulated as desired in exercising the body. Of course, if it is desired to increase or decrease the resilience of the exerciser, more or fewer elastic bands 12 can be connected to the handle 11, as desired.

Because of the uniform spacing of the indentations 3af from each other, the elastic bands 12 will be uniformly spaced from each other and will be held in their spaced position so that they cannot slide toward each other. Furthermore, if elastic bands are inserted in the indentations 39a and 3&9 leaving the remaining indentations vacant, the bands in these two indentations will remain in their spaced-apart disposition. This spacing function of the handle tends to balance the handle so that it will not pivot without notice about the elastic bands extending between the handles, as might be encountered if the bands were allowed to slide up and down the pin 50.

Inasmuch as the elastic bands 12 only have a simplified closed hook 60 connected to their ends, they are extremely economical to manufacture and maintain, and any bands damaged in the use or abuse of the exerciser 10 can be replaced at a minimum of expense. Furthermore, the fact that the hook 60 at the ends of each band 12 is completely closed, there is no opportunity for the bands 12 slipping oil the pin 59, as there might be in an open hook arrangement.

While the invention has been disclosed as comprising elastic bands, it should be understood that coil springs or various other types of resilient or elastic devices can be utilized with the handles 11, or non-resilient, non-elastic bands can be utilized therewith, as in isometric exercises. Furthermore, while the handle 11 has been disclosed as being formed from molded plastic, it should be understood that it can be formed from other materials, such as metal, wood, etc. While the hand grip 14 of the instant invention has been disclosed as being formed of aluminum and being substantially cylindrical in shape, it should be understood that the hand grip can be formed from wood, metal, plastic, or any other known compound. Also, the shape of the hand grip can be varied from cylindrical; i.e., shaped to fit the human band, tapered outwardly toward the middle, or any configuration that is expedient in use. While the instant hand grip 14 is cylindrical and allowed to turn inside the hand grip retainer 16 so as to allow the handle 11 to pivot about the hand grip 14, it should be understood that a non-circular configuration of the hand grip 14 is anticipated so as to allow the hand grip 14 to be rigidly contained within the hand grip retainer 16. Furthermore, while a closed eye hook has been disclosed as being connected to the ends of the elastic bands for connection of the bands to the handles, it should be understood that other connecting means can be employed. For instance, hook connections, bent spring ends and even knotted portions of elastic bands can be connected to the handle.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that many variations may be made in the embodiments chosen for the purpose of illustrating the present invention without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed as invention is:

1. An exerciser of the type including a pair of handles with elongate means extending therebetween,

said handles comprising a hand grip, a support portion,

and extension arms extending therebetween,

said support portion including a series of projections and indentations, said projections each defining axially aligned apertures disposed outwardly of said indentations, and

connecting means inserted through each of said aligned apertures, said connecting means including a first locking projection and said handles including a second locking projection complementary to said first locking projection to engage said first locking projection and retain said connecting means within said aligned apertures.

2. A handle for use with a stretchable exercising device of the type including elastic band means connected at their ends to a pair of handles, said handle comprising:

a hand grip,

hand grip retainers connected to said hand grip at each of its ends,

extension arms each connected at one of their ends to one of said hand grip retainers and each connected at the other of their ends to a band means support,

said band means support including a series of aligned projections and indentations extending between said extension arms, said projections defining a series of aligned apertures disposed outwardly of said indentations,

a band means attachment pin including an elongated rectilinear band means support portion, a spacer leg connected to and directed away from said band means support portion, and a locking leg connected to said spacer leg and extending in the same general direction as said support portion, said locking leg including a locking projection,

said band means support further comprising a locking channel including a locking projection,

the elongated rectilinear band means support portion of said attachment pin being insertable through said series of aligned apertures and said locking projection of said locking leg being engageable with said locking projection of said locking channel.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said band means support further includes locking knobs disposed on the side of said aligned apertures remote from said hand grip.

4. An exerciser as claimed in claim 1 wherein said sup port portion and said extension arms of said handles include a first portion and a second portion complementarily arranged to fit together to form the complete support portion and extension arms and means for maintaining said first portion and said second portion in alignment when said first portion and said second portion are positioned together.

5. An exerciser as claimed in claim 4 wherein said means for maintaining said first portion and said second portion in alignment when they are placed together include a plurality of locking knobs carried by said first portion and a plurality of complementarily hollowed out portions defined by said second portion wherein said locking knobs fit within said hollowed out portions.

6. An exerciser as claimed in claim 5 wherein said hand grip is cylindrical in shape and includes outwardly extending flanges at each of its ends, and wherein said handles define complemcntarily formed flanges engageable with said flanges of said hand grip to position said hand grip within said handles.

References Cited FOREIGN PATENTS 473,909 3/1929 Germany.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM R. BROWNE, Assistant Examiner.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 24205.l9, 201 

